The door opened, and Noah’s head snapped up. He closed his eyes as he dropped his head.
“Reed?”
I took a few steps back and turned around to leave. There was another man standing next to Steve. He looked like an older version of Noah.
“Noah’s father is here. Courtney is asking for you.”
I nodded my head and walked past the two men. As I made my way out, I turned in the opposite direction of where Courtney was and made my way to the guest bathroom. I shut the door and turned on the cold water. I splashed water on my face over and over again as I lost it and began crying.
After a few minutes of trying to get my breathing under control, I heard a knock on the door. I cleared my throat and held out my hands. They were barely shaking now, so I opened the door. Marie and Steve were standing there.
“Courtney is asking to leave, Reed,” Marie said as she wiped a tear away. “Oh God. I only wish we had known.”
Marie broke down crying as she fell into Steve’s arms. He looked at me, and I gave him a knowing nod. I knew exactly how he felt. He just wanted to take all their pain away.
“I’m going to get Court and take her back to the hotel.”
Steve nodded and began walking with Marie.
As I headed to the living room, I heard Tyler and Meg talking. My heart ached for them. It was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives, and it had turned out to be nothing but a nightmare.
I walked past the kitchen, and Tyler called out for me, “Reed! Please…wait.”
I stopped and took a deep breath.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry. If I had just known what Noah had done, and…I mean…” He began choking back a sob. “He asked me not to tell Meg, but that didn’t surprise me because Meg had made it known that she didn’t like Noah, but I…I didn’t…fuck. He didn’t want me to let Court know he was here either, and now, looking back, I fucked up so bad. I don’t know why I didn’t see the signs.” He fell back against the wall and said, “My own sister and girlfriend. Oh God…”
I placed my hand on his shoulder and said, “I think you and Meg should spend some time alone together. If she hasn’t talked to anyone about this, she is really going to need you now more than ever.”
He nodded his head. “Court won’t talk to me. She wouldn’t talk to anyone but Mom, Dad, and Sissy. Do you think she hates me, Reed?”
I shook my head and gave him a weak smile. “No, Tyler. She just needs some time. Just give her some time.”
He slowly nodded his head and attempted to give me a smile.
“Listen, I need to get Court out of here. Is Meg okay?” I asked as I looked around him and into the kitchen. I was guessing it was her mother and father who were in there with her.
Tyler looked back at Meg and said, “Yes and no. But we’re gonna be okay. I’ll do everything in my power to help her in whatever way she needs.”
“I know you will.” I reached out my hand and shook his before I headed to my girl.
She was curled up on the sofa, and Sissy was sitting on the floor. Courtney was running her fingers through Sissy’s hair. When Sissy saw me, she turned, gave Courtney a kiss on the cheek, and whispered something to her.
Sissy walked up to me and gave me a hug. “Please take care of her.”
I brushed away the single tear from her cheek and smiled. “Forever and always.”
I gave her a kiss on the cheek and then made my way over to my angel. I bent down and ran the back of my ha
nd down the side of her face. When she smiled, my heart began pounding harder.
She sat up and said, “I need to get out of the house.”
I reached for her hand and helped her up. I reached down and swooped her up into my arms.
She let out a little giggle. “I can walk, you know.”
I winked at her and said, “Any reason to have you in my arms, and I’m taking it.”